title: Clinical and microbiological characteristics of Bartholin gland abscesses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the clinical course and causative microorganisms of Bartholin gland abscesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of all patients treated for Bartholin gland abscesses between the years 2006 and 2011 at the Soroka University Medical Center, a regional medical center in southern Israel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 219 women were admitted as a result of an abscess of the Bartholin gland, 63% of which were primary abscesses and 37% recurrent abscesses (occurrence of a second clinical event). Pus cultures were positive in 126 (61.8%) of cases. Escherichia coli was the single most frequent pathogen found (43.7%) and 10 cases (7.9%) were polymicrobial. Culture-positive cases were significantly associated with fever (25% compared with 9.3%; P=.043), leukocytosis (50.4% compared with 33.8%; P=.027), and neutrophilia (17.9% compared with 5.9%; P=.021). The odds ratio of having any of these with a positive culture was 2.4 (95% confidence interval 1.3-4.3; P=.003). In the recurrent group, 81% recurred ipsilaterally and the mean time for recurrence was 32 ± 50 months. Infection with E coli was significantly more common in recurrent infection compared with primary infections (56.8% compared with 37%; P=.033). Three cases of resistance to most beta-lactam antimicrobials (extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing [E coli] strains) were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of patients with Bartholin gland abscess are culture-positive with E coli being the single most common pathogen. Microbiological findings coupled with their clinical correlates are important parameters in the management of patients with a Bartholin gland abscess and in the selection of empirical antimicrobial treatment during the primary diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  : III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, and Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kessous
authors.forename: Barak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aricha-Tamir
authors.forename: Boaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sheizaf
authors.forename: Naama
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shteiner
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moran-Gilad
authors.forename: Adi Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Weintraub
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology*; D000328:Adult; D001472:Bartholin's Glands / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult